CARSON CITY, NV -- BLM Carson City Field Office Manager John O. Singlaub revealed
today that he will not follow several applicable laws and regulations, or a
compromise recommendation by his staff supported by the Fallon-Paiute Shoshone
Tribe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservationists to close sensitive
habitat to off-road vehicles at Sand Mountain, Nevada. Singlaub said this morning
that he intends to issue (as soon as today) a decision that only encourages
voluntary avoidance of 1000 acres of remaining vegetated habitat within and
adjacent to the 4700 acre Sand Mountain Recreation Area.

Earlier this spring BLM staff recommended closure of the best remaining habitat
at Sand Mtn. (much has already been lost) to protect the Sand Mtn. blue butterfly,
its host plant Kearny buckwheat, and other rare endemic species. BLM convened
a subgroup of conservationists, off-roaders and a representative of the tribe
to make a recommendation. Conservationists focused on protection of the 1000
acre habitat area, and at no time proposed closure of more popular off-road
riding areas, despite severe environmental damage there. Off-road industry
groups were unwilling to consider any closure, demanding the entire Sand Mountain
area be open to intensive off-roading. The subgroup did not agree on any recommendations,
but BLM's statewide Resource Advisory Group of political appointees voted anyway
to recommend implementation of only voluntary measures. BLM is obligated to
follow applicable laws and regulations, not recommendations of advisory groups.

"BLM must follow the law to conserve public lands resources with balanced
management, not just meekly ask off-roaders to please not trash the area." said
Daniel R. Patterson, Desert Ecologist with the Center for Biological Diversity
who represents the national conservation perspective on the BLM's Sand Mountain
subgroup. He adds, "This is a one-sided toothless political move that
ignores the compelling national interest for conservation and balanced public
land use."

"The law requires land managers to close areas to off-road vehicles where
clear damage to natural resources it occurring, as it is at Sand Mountain.
It does not allow managers to avoid needed closures with voluntary approaches." said
Karen Schambach of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. "When
asked, BLM could not identify anywhere where voluntary off-road vehicle restrictions
have worked to conserve or restore habitat."

"BLM has shamefully allowed Sand Mountain to be taken over by destructive
off-roading, and now they make a political decision to avoid upsetting the
industry that will allow continued harm to endemic species and cultural sites." said
Charles S. Watson Jr. longtime Nevada conservation champion and director of
the Carson City-based Nevada Outdoor Recreation Association.